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ESPN ranks Tennessee's Jermod McCoy as No. 1 cornerback prospect in 2026 NFL Draft

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey06/22/25GrantRamey
Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy. Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy. Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy is the No. 1 cornerback prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s Matt Miller. McCoy is coming off a breakout debut season with the Vols, after transferring from Oregon State, but is also recovering from a torn ACL in January. 

That’s why ESPN described McCoy as the toughest player to rank at cornerback, while ranking the top five prospects at each position for next year’s NFL Draft. 

“The Oregon State transfer thrived in his first season with the Vols,” ESPN’s Jordan Reid wrote, “intercepting four passes and looking like the CB1 of a strong 2026 corner class.

“But he suffered a torn ACL during a January training session, putting his status for the 2025 season in doubt. Can McCoy return to the field this season, and how would he perform if he does?”

ESPN ranks the top-five corners in the 2026 NFL Draft

Miller ranked McCoy ahead of Avieon Terrell (Clemson), Malik Muhammed (Texas), Chandler Rivers (Duke) and D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana). Reid has McCoy ranked No. 2, behind A.J. Harris (Penn State) and ahead of DJ McKinney (Colorado), Terrell and Muhammed. 

McCoy finished his first season at Tennessee with 44 tackles, nine passes defended and four interceptions. He had 31 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee. 

Pro Football Focus ranked McCoy at No. 8 overall in its first Big Board for the 2026 NFL Draft.

The top prospect on the PFF Big Board was Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, ahead of Clemson edge rusher TJ Parker, Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods, Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor.

Jermod McCoy projected as high as No. 11 overall in 2026 NFL Draft

The way-too-early NFL mock drafts all seem to agree on McCoy as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. McCoy is projected at No. 11 overall pick according to The Athletic, No. 12 by USA Today, No. 13 according to Todd McShay, No. 14 according to ESPN and No. 20 according to CBS Sports.

“The current favorite to be the top corner selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, McCoy was a lockdown player for the Volunteers after transferring in from Oregon State,” PFF’s Max Chadwick and Trevor Sikkema wrote. 

“His 89.6 PFF coverage grade in 2024 is second among returning Power Four corners, while his four interceptions were tied for second in that same group.”

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